13: Chapter 0013 Rice

After a day of classes ended, Li Size was called to the office alone by Felina in the evening—the sorcery crystal on the desk emitted a soft blue light, and the rune decorations on the wall glowed faintly.

Felina tapped the sorcery manual on the desk and asked,

“What exactly happened during the day?

I saw you gathered with Fellow Student Jackson, and it looked like you even fought?”

That’s how school is; students usually don't want to tell teachers about their affairs.

However, Li Size had nothing to hide. He scratched his head and stated frankly:

Jackson was obsessed with his mentor and challenged him to make him stay away from Felina.

Upon hearing this, Felina, who was hearing for the first time that a student was obsessed with her, felt utterly ashamed in front of Li Size.

But she was also faintly proud of her own charm. Her face flushed, her ears burned, and she put her hands on her hips, leaning close to Li Size to press him for an answer:

“What kind of nonsense is going on in your little heads, you brats?

I am your mentor, almost ten years older than you!

By the way, if you lose, you really won't come near me anymore?”

The sorcery light in the office flickered, making her cheeks look even redder.

The distance was very close, and the familiar fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Li Size took a deep breath, spread his hands, and smiled confidently:

“Teacher, don't you know that most of the male students in the academy have improper designs for you?

How could he possibly defeat me?

Ever since I was attacked by your Ghost, my potential has been stimulated, and I am growing rapidly! I have absolute confidence.”

Felina stared at him with wide eyes.

Li Size's words made Felina more shy, yet she felt her beauty was well-deserved, and at the same time, she felt that what the student said was slightly disrespectful.

She wanted to reprimand him but couldn't bring herself to say it. She bit her lip, straightened her clothes, feeling complicated.

Next, when Li Size mentioned his improvement in strength, Felina leaned forward, her big eyes gazing at him in surprise:

“You weren't possessed by my Ghost, were you? How has your strength improved so quickly recently?”

The sorcery lamp on the desk flickered once.

Li Size rubbed his head, shrugged, and pretended to be unaware:

“I don't know either. Ever since I was attacked by your Ghost, my physical fitness and Mental Energy have been rapidly increasing these past few days, and I'm learning things faster and faster.”

His eyes flickered subtly.

Felina looked at him half-believingly, always feeling that he was hiding something.

The situation at the time was indeed strange. She knew her Ghost wasn't shot dead by a Patrol Officer, but suddenly disappeared, suspecting Li Size had devoured it to gain benefits.

In wizard records, special Bloodline talents could gain power by devouring intelligent creatures. Did Li Size possess a latent talent?

She tapped her chin with her finger and looked at the sorcery street lamp outside the window.

Did that mean he might have reached the minimum Mental Energy standard for a Wizard Apprentice?

Felina’s eyes lit up.

Felina originally felt apologetic and a peculiar feeling toward Li Size. She wanted to tell him her guess to help him grow past that hurdle.

But she also felt this talent might not be a good thing for him, so she dared not speak it.

She clenched her fist and sighed.

She looked at Li Size complexly, deciding to take things one step at a time for now. Perhaps it really was just an Opportunity, as he said?

She shook her head, and her gaze softened.

She then thought of her sister:

Her heart was weak and unable to exercise, her physical fitness was extremely poor, but her Mental Energy growth was abnormally close to 4. Due to her physical condition, she couldn't enter the academy. If she could get through this tribulation, she would definitely become an outstanding Formal Wizard.

Felina’s eyes dimmed, and she touched the photo of her sister in her pocket.

Li Size watched Felina, whose expression kept changing, not knowing what she was thinking.

He knew his changes would attract attention, so he could only attribute it to that bizarre encounter—the Pay-to-Win ability must absolutely not be told to anyone.

He scratched his neck and looked at the sorcery props on the desk.

Felina took a deep breath to steady her mood, took out a silver revolver from the desk—the runes on the gun body faintly shimmered under the light:

“I received a message from Rice. He will be arriving at Gray Mist Mountain soon.”

Li Size leaned forward, frowned, and asked:

“Where will you meet him?”

Felina spread her hands, her eyes solemn:

“I don't know. We have to wait for his notification.”

Li Size raised an eyebrow, sensing the gravity:

This guy is extremely cautious. I need to be careful recently; perhaps he is already observing secretly.

He touched the sorcery coins in his pocket and looked toward the door.

Feeling that Rice would be difficult to deal with, Li Size crossed his arms, his expression serious, trying to learn more:

“What kind of person do you think Rice is?”

Felina turned her head, resting her chin in thought, her tone uncertain:

“Very mysterious. I can't figure out his thoughts or his next plan at all.”

She looked at the sorcery tree outside the window.

Li Size's brows furrowed even deeper, and he tapped the desk:

“No wonder he suddenly changed his itinerary and methods when entering the territory. This guy’s next move is completely unpredictable.”

His gaze sharpened.

Li Size looked around, shrank his neck, and rubbed his arms:

“He won't suddenly rush to the academy to kill me, will he?”

His eyes were tense.

Felina rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips:

“This is the academy! He is a spy, not a madman. Even a madman wouldn't rush in here to kill students!”

“Ahem, I'm just scared stiff from being attacked by the Ghost. This world is too dangerous.”

Li Size touched his nose, patted his chest with a hint of lingering fear, his eyes flickering.

“You keep bringing that up, don't you!?”

Felina gave him a dangerous look, approached Li Size, tapped the table, and asked with a smile.

“I always have to leave a deep impression on the teacher, preferably unforgettable for a lifetime.”

Seeing that Felina was about to explode, Li Size waved his hand, grinned, and quickly changed the subject:

“What about his strength?”

Felina closed her eyes, recalled for a moment, frowned, and replied:

“High-tier Wizard Apprentice. His specialty Domain is unclear.”

“Are you sure!?”

Li Size gasped in shock and stepped back, his eyes wide with surprise:

Our main force here is only Intermediate Wizard Apprentice. Ambushing a High-tier one seems a bit difficult, right?

“Certain.”

Felina nodded, her gaze firm.

“Oh? How are you certain?”

Li Size tilted his head, his eyes puzzled.

“Wizards generally know the Detection Spell, which can roughly probe the opponent's Rank.

The police department's energy detector is based on this sorcery.”

Speaking of the energy detector, Felina blinked and smiled at Li Size, clearly recalling their small skirmish earlier.

“There might also be ways to conceal or disguise one's energy aura, right?”

Li Size leaned forward, his eyes curious as he continued to press:

“Of course, there are. One can lower or raise their aura.

But if he were a Formal Wizard, he probably wouldn't need to take on this kind of mission.

It's also unlikely that a spy would raise their aura to make themselves more conspicuous.”

Felina touched the sorcery crystal on the desk, analyzing everything clearly.

Li Size licked his lips, frowned, and touched the coins in his pocket, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth—

He was still an ordinary person who had to confront a High-tier Wizard Apprentice carrying a Demonic Energy fluctuation. He wondered if there was a way to become invisible so the opponent couldn't see him?

His gaze drifted toward the rune decorations on the wall, feeling somewhat helpless.

Seeing Li Size fall silent, Felina probably knew what he was thinking. She patted his shoulder and comforted him in a low voice:

“You will meet him with me then. Be careful to protect yourself.

The Captain said capturing him successfully yields 5 merit points, and successfully countering espionage adds another 5—merit points can be exchanged for a sorcery scroll, you know.”

When Li Size heard there were 10 merit points, bringing him one step closer to theMeditation (Meditation Method), he clenched his fist and his eyes lit up. The reflection of the sorcery props on the table shone on his face:

“Fortune favors the bold; it's worth it!”

He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the desk, and asked curiously:

“Then how many merit points do you get?”

“20.”

Felina raised an eyebrow, tapped the table with her finger, and her tone carried a hint of pride.

“This is Rank discrimination!”

Li Size slapped the table. The sorcery crystal on it shook slightly, and his eyes were indignant.

“I am an official specially appointed member; you are just an auxiliary!

Besides, I am a Wizard Apprentice, and you are an ordinary person. How can the price be the same!?”

Felina put her hands on her hips, looking smug, and the rune decorations on the wall glowed faintly.

Seeing Li Size indignant, Felina found it amusing. She took out two small bags of rune-marked bullets and the silver revolver, handing them to him:

“You know how to use this, right? silver lightning, 12mm caliber, 7-round cylinder.

Practice more recently, and don't shoot the wrong person in a crisis. You must return them after the mission is complete.”

When she handed over the items, her fingers lifted slightly, her movements brisk.

Li Size took the gun, stroked the runes on the body, frowned, and said aggrievedly:

“I have to return it? This gun feels so good in the hand...”

“Auxiliary members are not qualified for assigned firearms. We'll talk once you become an official member.”

Felina spread her hands and smiled at him. The sorcery manual on the desk was flipped over by the wind.

Li Size leaned forward, rubbing the corner of his shirt with expectant eyes:

“Are there any sorcery props that increase defense?”

Felina shook her head, her eyes helpless. The sorcery crystal on the desk dimmed slightly:

“No.”

Li Size put his hands on his hips and stomped his foot, his tone exaggerated:

“Mentor! Beautiful lady! This is facing a High-tier Wizard Apprentice directly!

What if he really attacks me?

I protest; I'll go on strike without protective gear!

Gelia's Resistance Enhancement sorcery, can't you do it?”

He mentioned Gelia, and his eyes lit up, then he frowned again.

Gelia couldn't stay by his side during the meeting. He and Felina would have to face the danger themselves. Defense enhancement must be considered in advance—right now, there was no way to know if Rice would suddenly attack.

Li Size frowned and looked toward the door, his hand touching something in his pocket.

Felina spread her hands, her tone helpless:

“Resistance Enhancement is a specialty sorcery of the Protection System. It's hard to obtain outside the police department. The purchase price is high, and opportunities are rare...

I am not in the Protection System, nor do I have that many coins to buy sorcery props.”

Li Size tilted his head, resting his chin in his hand, and asked curiously:

“You don't specialize in the Necromancy System, do you? For a beautiful lady like you, tsk tsk, that's rare!”

Felina lowered her head, her eyes dim, rubbing the corner of her clothes, as if recalling a sad memory:

“Originally, I wanted to study the cultivation and transplantation of human organs, but my talent in that area was too poor, and I never got started. Otherwise, it wouldn't have come to this...”

Her voice dropped.

Li Size thought of her and her sister, scratched his head awkwardly, and changed the subject:

“The Necromancy System is still very powerful; Ghosts are fierce!

Is there any way to increase my defense? Otherwise, it’s too dangerous; I really don't dare to go!”

His tone carried a pleading meaning, and he blinked his eyes.

Seeing that he changed the subject, Felina gave him a reproachful look. After thinking carefully, her eyes lit up:

“The academy has the formula for 'inferior defense potion,' just like the 'inferior healing powder.' Ordinary people can theoretically prepare it.

The academy has the Materials. Why don't you try? Your alchemy talent is so abnormal...”

She tapped the sorcery scroll on the desk with her finger, her tone filled with expectation.

Li Size held his forehead and sighed, feeling his teammate was unreliable:

“Can't you refine it for me?

You are an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice!”

His tone was helpless, and his eyes looked toward the ceiling.

Felina blushed, lowered her head, clasped her hands together, and felt too embarrassed to look at him:

“My potion skills have always been failing...” Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

Li Size asked Felina to take out the academy's 'inferior defense potion' formula scroll.

With the scroll, he could study it slowly, but unfortunately, he didn't have time now.

He stared at the 'inferior defense potion' scroll. The Pay-to-Win talent reacted as expected:

【Discovered 'inferior defense potion' formula scroll. Consuming 20 Energy Points allows for Analysis to obtain the skill】.

His eyes lit up, and he clenched his fist—this talent was truly a timely rain!